By By Lolade Adewuyi on August 25, 2018

In the upheaval that has engulfed Nigerian football over the weeks since the end of the World Cup, it is easy to overlook the modest achievement of table tennis star Aruna Quadri. The 30-year-old became the first Nigerian to win the ITTF Challenge Nigeria Open title in front of a fiercely supportive crowd inside the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos, on August 12. It was a moment to enjoy as the world number 18 defeated Frenchman Antoine Hachard 4-2 in an energetic encounter that left many breathless.

The crowd cheered every winner served by Aruna and literally pushed him across the line. After a series of disappointing outings in previous years, they finally had something to be happy about. Aruna lost the final to Egypt's Omar Assar in 2015 but ensured to bring joy to the hearts of his passionate supporters this year. The title was added to his Polish Open victory last year when he became the first African player to win outside of the continent.

The rabid support that Aruna draws among the Lagos crowd is a sign of what can be achieved by sports outside football. Hundreds of fans wore t-shirts bearing his image and chanted praise at his every move. Several journalists wanted interviews with him but his schedule would not allow it, so the tournament organisers decided to give him a solo press conference in an attempt to satisfy the horde. He came across as a very humble man. He thanked the media for the positive reportage and support he had received before welcoming questions.

I asked him about the challenges that his sport faces in Nigeria and how to improve the talent base. Like many other sports people outside of football, Aruna laid the problem of smaller sports on the doorstep of the juggernaut. If table tennis receives 20 percent of the funding given to football, there will be a boom and talents will be able to be nurtured into world standard, he said.

The victory of Aruna coincides with the rise in profile of the Nigeria Open. From 2019, the Nigeria Open will be elevated from an ITTF Challenge tournament to the new Challenge Plus series rating. Africa's leading table tennis tournament will receive a higher prize money and be able to attract more players in the top 150. This will also mean more ranking points that would ensure that top quality players come around to Lagos. (The Guardian)

•Photo shows Quadri

Source Daily Sports

Posted August 25, 2018

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